No matter how much experience you have hauling a trailer, winter weather conditions can quickly leave you questioning your preparedness. However, there are a few safety precautions you can take to keep safe and save yourself money during the frigid months ahead.
Winter-Weather Hauling
At Country Blacksmith Trailers, your safety is our priority. That’s why we’ve compiled this winter-weather guide — to keep you safe, and help you get the job done — because we know your work doesn’t stop when the snow starts falling.
Proper Maintenance
- Check Your Tow Vehicle: Ensure your lights work and that your tires are filled to the factory-confirmed PSI. If you typically use snow tires or tire chains, be sure to add them as needed.
- Check Your Trailer: Double check that your hitch is properly connected, along with the lights and brakes on the cargo trailer. Ensure any routine maintenance has been completed and the tires are fit for travel.
Safe Driving
Watch the Weather: If you’re going to be hauling during winter weather, it’s your responsibility to be aware of the driving conditions. By paying close attention to the weather and road conditions, you may be able to map out a safer route.
Maximize Visibility: Before you get on the road, be sure to clear the ice from your lights, hood and windshield. You should also consider using anti-freeze windshield wiper fluid.
Take your Time: As roadways become icier, you may need to decrease your speed to ensure your safety, that’s why it’s important to factor in additional time during time-sensitive trips. Additionally, you’ll want to ensure you leave more space between you and the car in front of you. This will give you time to better react to any situation that occurs ahead, including sudden breaking.
Anti – Freeze
Carry a Kit: When you’re hauling in icy conditions, you’ll want to be sure you have the essentials in case of an emergency. Aside from your normal every-day items such as jumper cables and a multipurpose flashlight and/or pocket knife, you may consider packing a wool blanket, “hot hands”, gloves, non-perishable food, water, and an emergency snow shovel.
- Insulate the Trailer: If you’re going to be spending any significant time loading or unloading the trailer, or if you plan to haul any temperate gear, you may need to consider insulating your trailer. There are many different ways you can do this including adding blueboard to the walls of your trailer, insulating the ceiling vent, and even putting down an area rug.
Winter-Weather Trailer Storage
If you use your trailer for lawn maintenance, farm work, or other warm-weather activities, you may find that you don’t need to use your cargo trailer during the winter. However, that doesn’t mean that you can skip out on winter-weather preparations this season. To ensure your trailer is prepared for the next spring, you’ll want to take the following precautions — it may even end up saving you money in the long run.
- Maintain: Before storing your trailer, you’ll want to check for any holes or rust spots in the top and bottom of the trailer to ensure its contents don’t get wet. If you notice worn-down spots, you may need to visit a trailer service expert or purchase a new trailer. In the event you cannot afford these changes, you’ll want to ensure anything of value is removed from your trailer.
- Empty: Speaking of emptying your trailer, if you don’t have holes and plan to keep your gear in your trailer during the winter, make sure it’s locked up so no one can access your supplies. You’ll want to remove the battery from your power hydraulics or emergency breakaway system, if applicable, as the winter months can be particularly hard on these devices.
- Lubricate: Use grease or other lubricants to thoroughly coat all of the moving parts such as the hitch, hinges and wheel bearings — especially if you aren’t storing your trailer indoors. You want to protect your trailer from any rust or corrosion that may occur, so you can get back to work without a hitch next spring.
- Jack: Consider using your trailer’s jack to remove the pressure from the tires to prolong their life. This action should be especially helpful in presenting dry-rotting. If you do lift your trailer, consider periodically spinning the tires to help grease the wheel bearings while not in use.
- Store: Carefully pick where you want to store your vehicle — preferably somewhere safe and dry. If you do have to leave your trailer outside, try to cover it with a breathable tarp to avoid undue condensation, but ensure you cover the wheels as best as you can to avoid dry rotting.
Trailer Super Store In Carterville and Mt Vernon Illinois
If, after completing your maintenance check, you realize that your trailer isn’t fit for the upcoming winter season, let the knowledgeable team at Country Blacksmith Trailers’ service center help you get prepared for the cooler months ahead. If you’re interested in upgrading your trailer, we accept trade-ins, and special financing is also available.
At Country Blacksmith Trailers, we are committed to keeping our community safely sporting and working, no matter the road conditions. We are proud of our 15+ years of experience providing an exceptional trailer-buying and servicing experience to our Illinois neighbors.